We’ve spent the past few months speaking with clients and receiving feedback on how we can move from “good to great” to improve their client experience. As such, we’ve developed a new “team approach” to account management (AM). This new structure directly benefits our clients in 4 ways:
We think you’ll love our new “team approach” to managing your account and your organization’s IT needs.
Here Are 3 Things You Should Absolutely Demand From Your IT Services Firm
(If you’re a DP Solutions client, you’re already getting these!)
Even as businesses across the country go completely digital, and the entirety of their precious assets are stored on servers, the quality of many IT services providers has plummeted. In a misguided attempt to cut costs and save money, some shortsighted businesses are unable to see the utility of accurately priced IT options, so they opt for lower-tier, “break-fix” firms to keep their network afloat. Instead of paying monthly fees for managed services, they call up an IT professional only after something has broken down and pay them by the hour.
This strategy certainly saves money in the short term, but it opens your business up to all kinds of technological disasters in the long haul. These disasters range from vicious cyber-attacks that punch through the gaps in your security to total server failures that cause you to lose thousands of dollars of essential data. Break-fix technicians only get paid when something in your system breaks. They have no incentive to be proactive with your network or to detect potential concerns before they become a full-blown crisis. What’s more, they’re unfamiliar with your network, increasing the amount of time it takes to get your network up and running in the midst of a crisis. Over time, this “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach will end up costing much more than a managed services provider.
When you’re shopping for the best IT services provider for your business, it’s important to remember just how much you depend on your technology to stay competitive in today’s marketplace.
Here are three standards you absolutely need to demand from your team of IT experts before disaster strikes:
1. Constant Monitoring Of Your Network
The best managed services providers aren’t reactive – they’re preventative. Instead of waiting around until something breaks and your business suffers hours of downtime, they keep an eye on your network 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring nothing goes amiss. By gaining an intimate knowledge of the way your particular network operates, they can see any inconsistencies or holes in your security long before they become a problem. And if an issue does arise, they are there to fix it immediately – usually before the business owner even realizes there’s a problem.
2. Rapid Response Times
Since your MSP is regularly monitoring your system, they’re ready in the event that any potential catastrophe might rear its ugly head, taking a proactive stance before it hits your bottom line. You don’t have to wait on hold to find out when the next technician may be available, ticking away precious minutes, hours or days before the problem is addressed. When something happens, the MSP is immediately on it, and since they know your network, they can iron out any hiccups in record time.
3. A Real Investment In Your Success
Since MSPs depend on the success of your business to survive, you can bet they’re doing everything they possibly can to keep your network running smoothly. It’s in the MSP’s own personal interest to establish a flawless, predictable system that is efficient and easy to work with. Over time, the MSP will implement repeatable processes to fix issues before your customers feel their effects. Because if the customers experience the problem, the MSP will, too. Unlike break-fix technicians who depend on outages to get paid, MSPs will work with you to build a system that requires the least possible effort on both of your parts. This means your system will integrate seamlessly with your day-to-day activities and rarely suffer any issues at all.
Partnering with a managed services provider may cost a little more upfront, but within months, you’ll experience the massive benefits of a team of IT professionals who actually want your business to succeed. In the long run, the peace of mind and sheer volume of crises you avoid with an MSP will far outweigh the cost.
Increase Capacity: Expanding Your Skill And Confidence
You and I know what is probable, but we seldom understand what is possible.
Andrew Shapiro is an example of someone who blew past “probable” and set a new standard for “possible.” Inspired by his father’s triumphant battle with cancer, Shapiro committed himself to setting a Guinness World Record for pull-ups. He practiced incessantly, building his endurance by doing 10 pull-ups a minute for six hours while watching movies to pass the time. He pressed on despite sore muscles and blistered hands. Then, at a Relay for Life event in Virginia, he achieved his goal, performing 7,306 pull-ups in 24 hours. Andrew not only set a new record that day, but also raised $4,000 for the American Cancer Society.
In my new book, The Potential Principle, I offer four powerful tools for creating breakout improvement, personally and professionally. The fourth tool is this:
Increase your capacity in order to grow your confidence and move closer to realizing your true potential.
Success breeds confidence, and confidence breeds success. It’s a virtuous cycle that begins when you commit yourself to spending the time and effort it takes to raise your level of skill.
The Potential Principle includes many tips about how to start this process and keep it going. A great way to begin is to take inventory of the abilities you have right now. You get better by both exploiting what you already know and the skills you’ve developed, and by exploring new skills and knowledge.
As you consider adding new skills, make sure you know which ones, if developed, will enhance your existing skills toward the performance you desire. Study the most important skills in your priority areas. Ask yourself, “What one thing, if I started doing it and kept doing it, would give me the biggest return on my investment of time and energy?”
Improvement is hard work, but it pays off. To better your best, dedicate yourself to doing what it takes to increase your capacity. It will give you the confidence you need to achieve your goals and become the person you were meant to be.
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Let's face it - not all IT providers are created equal. The question is, which one will give you honest, straightforward and ACCURATE advice, and which ones will overcharge you, not deliver on their promises and (potentially) make things worse due to gross incompetence?
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Forest Hills of DC is a private not-for-profit organization that has been providing a full continuum of care and support for seniors in the Washington, D.C. area since 1889.
Forest Hills of DC offers sub-acute rehab, skilled nursing and long-term care in a licensed nursing facility. Additionally, the organization provides assisted living services and operates a highly specialized memory care facility, known as Forest Side Memory Care.
Throughout its history, Forest Hills of DC has always held a primary focus on its residents and staff who, together, make the community feel like home. The organization creates a safe, compassionate, and supportive community that inspires seniors to remain active and healthy.
Forest Hills of DC recently joined DP Solutions’ family of managed IT service clients, in addition to cloud backup services and security awareness training & testing. They have been thrilled with their experience with DP Solutions so far, citing “excellent customer service” and “a team dedicated to quality service.”
To learn more about Forest Hills of DC, visit www.foresthillsdc.life.
Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE, is the president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an “idea studio” that seeks to motivate and develop leaders in and outside of business. He’s the bestselling author of books like